Stepladder



J. M. H. JACOBS.

STEPLADDER.

FILED FEB. 15. 1922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' wvE/vTon.

8% JAMZS MIL/A6086.

Dec. 19, 1922.

J. M. H. JACOBS.

ST EPLADDER.

FILED FEB. 15,1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awe/M504 JAMES Aid/4605.5.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922 JAMES M. H. moons, or DAYTON, onro, nssrenon ro THE MUTUAL FURNITURE 4 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ornmnrsnune, OHIO, A CORPORATION or onto.

STEPLADDER.

Application filed February 15, 1922. Serial No. 536,628.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JAMES M. H. JAooBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ste'pladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to step ladders and similar structures and is in the nature of an improvement on the structure shown and described in the application filed June 6, 1921, by B. E. VVillett, Serial No. 47 5,299.

One object of the invention'is to provide such a structure which will be simple in construction and of a strong, durable character; and which will be rigidly supported in its extended position. I

A further object of the invention is to provide such a structure which may be readily foldedinto a compact form; and which when folded will stand uponthe front frame.

Qther objects of the invention will appear as the structure is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the ladder in its ex tended position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ladder in its folded position; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the ladder partly broken away. v Y

v In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as comprising a front or step frame, consisting of side members 1 connected one to the other by steps 2 and truss rods 3 which also serve toreinforce the steps. The uppermost step 4 is in the pres ent instance mounted on the upper ends of the side members 1 and is secured thereto byangle irons 5 and reinforced by braces 6. The rear frame member also consists of two side members 7 connected one to the other by tierods 8 and braced one against the other by diagonal braces 9. The upper ends of the side members 7 areconnected by a cross bar 10' which rests upon the same and is connected thereto by angleirons 11. M

It will be noted that the rear frame. is of a heightlconsiderably greater than the front frame and that theupper end of the front two parts.

frame is spaced a considerable distance from the rear frame. The front frame is connected with the rear frame by means of spacing devices each of which consists of two members, the front member 12 being pivotally connected at its front end with the upper'portion of the front frame and the rear member 13 being pivotally connected at its rear end with the rear frame. The two' members are pivotally connected one to the other, as shown at 14, and are provided "with means for limiting their downward movement and thus rigidly supporting the same when the structure is in its extended position. In the present device the two membersl2 and 13 of each connecting device are formed of angle irons so arrangedthat oneflange 0f the angle iron will extend inwardly from the lower edge of the other flanges, thus forming a laterally ex: tending flan e which also serves to support a,

platform. The horizontal flange 15 of the front member 12, is cut away at'both ends I to permit the necessary movement of this member with relation to the parts with which it is connected. The forwardend of the rear member '13 extends beyond the pivotal connection 14 and overlaps the adjacent. end of the horizontal flange 15 of the front member 12, thus forming apositive stop which limits the downward movement of the The connecting devices are further reinforced and braced by diagonal bars 16 which are pivotally connected at theirupper ends with the rear members 13 of the respective connecting devices and are pivotally connected at their lower ends with the I respective side members of the front frame.

A platform is interposed between the upper portion of the front frame and the rear frame, upon which the occupant of the ladder may stand, and in order that this platform may be folded into a compact position when the ladder as a whole is folded I have formed this platform of two parts 17 and 18 which are supported respectively by the horizontal flanges of the front and rear member'sof the two connecting devices. The front part1? of the platform is preferably permanently securedto the front members of the spacing devices but in the present construction I have shown the rear member 18 as looselymounted'upon the rear mem- Q inseam here 13 of the spacing devices and connected thereto by links 19 sothat itmay be moved into the elevated position shown in Fig. The ends of the rear part 18 of the platform are reinforced by metalbars haiinghool; shaped ends 20 which on ge over one of the connecting rods 8 of the rear frame. The construction and operation of this movable platform are the same as shown in the above mentioned application of'lVillett and therefore, need not be here described in detail.

It is desirablethat guards should be provided at the sides of the platform such in the structure here shown I have provided at each side of the platform a guard 21 in the form of a curved rod which is pivotally' connected at its upper end to the upper portion of the rear frame, as shown at 22, and is pi tally connected at its lower end to the upper portion of the front frame This latter connection is preferably formed by mounting the guard upon the pivot pin 25 by means of which the froirt member 12 of the s cing device is connected with the front time; this pin extending outwardly far enough to receive the guard. Th s enables the two parts to be pivotally mounted on the same axisand facilitates the folding of the structure into acompact form. The lower ends of the guards, as shown at 23, extend beyond-their points of pivotal connection with the frame and are arranged to engage the respective side members 1 and brace the guards against lateral strain, thus to a large J measure relieving the pivotal connections of this strain its here shown, the side members 1 of the front frame are provided with metal plates 24 with which the lower ends of the guards may contact thereby reinforcing the construction and preventing any wear of the side members 1 by contactwith the guards.

it will be apparent from the foregoing do scription that haveprovided a very simple structure which is of a strong. durable character and whicln when in its extended position will be firmly supported and can not collapse or fold when occupied. The spacing devices which support the platform are of astronpg. rigid character and firmly braced against downward movementwhen the ladder is in its extended position but are so constructed and'arranged that when the two frames of the ladder are moved one toward the other these jspacingdevices will fold one toward the other into the posi tionshown in Fig. 3, this beingaccomplished by the mere movement of the frames. Moreover, the guard rods 21 will also move into a position extending lengthwise of the frames ;so that the folded structure is very compact. It will be noted that Qwhen the frames are-moved one toward the other the rear frame will move upwardly, thereby causing the folded structure who supported solely by the front frame and enabling the same to stand against a wallwhen itis desired to be used as a ladder when in 11s folded position.

lVhile l. have shown and described one en1- bodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that i do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character described, a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame, said front frame being of less height than the rear frame and having its upper end spaced from said rear frame, spacing devices for said frames, each comprising a front member and a rear menn ber pivotally connected one to the other and pivotally connected respectively with the upper portion of the front frame and with said rear frame, means tolimit the downward movement of the intermediate portions of said members and a platform comprising separate parts carried respectively by the front and rear. members of said spacing devices. v i i i 2. In a structure of the character described, a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame, said front frame belmg of less height than the-rear frame and having its upper'end spaced from said rear frame, spacing devices for said frames, each comprising a front member and a rear member pivotally connected one to the other and pivotally connected respectively with the upper portion of the front frame and with said rear frame, and a platform compri inpj separate parts carried respectively by the front and rear niembersof said spacings-g devicesw one of "said members having a part extending-r beyond point of connection with the other member andeng aging sr'd other member to limit the downward movement of said platform.

3. In a structure of the character describech a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame said front frame beingr less height than the rear frame and hzwing its upper end spaced from said rear me. spacing devices for said frames each commisiire a front member and a rearlmemher pivotally connected one to the other and pivotallyconnected respectively with the upper portion of the front frame and with said rear frame, one of said membersha-ving a flange extendinglaterally from thelowcr ed e thereof and having its" ends spaced from the respective ends of' said .membe r, the other of saidmembers' haying a portion e);- ten dingf beyond its point of connection-with the first mentioned member and overlapping the adjacent end of said'flange; and a'platsaid rear frame, one of said members hav-.

ing a flange extending laterally from the lower edge thereof and having its ends spaced from the respective ends of said member, the other of said members having a portion extending beyond its point of connection with the first mentioned member and overlapping the adjacent end of said flange, and a platform comprising two parts supported respectively by the front and rear members of said spacing devices, and. a brace pivotally connected withthe last men tioned member and with the frame with which the first mentioned member is connected.

5. In a structure of the character described, a front frame, a rear frame to sup port said front frame, said front frame being of less height than the rear frame and having its upper end spaced from said rear frame, a platform extending between the upper portion of said front frame and said rear frame and comprising front and rear part-s pivotally connected one to the other and to the respective frames, and means to limit the downward movement of said platform about said pivotal connections, and guards arranged at the sides ofsa-id platform and each pivotally connected on fixed axes with said front and rear frames.

6. In a structure of the character described, a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame, said front frame being of less height than the rear frame and having its upper end spaced from saidrear frame, spacing devices for said frames, each comprising a front member and a rear member pivotally connected one to the other and pivotally connected respectively with the upper portion of the front frame and with said rear frame, a platform comprising separate parts carried respectively by the front and rear members of said spacing devices, one of said members having a part extending beyond its point of connection with the other memberand engaging said other member to limit the downward movement of said platform, and guards arranged at the sides of said platform and each pivotally connected on fixed axes with the upper portions of the respective frames.

7. In a structure of the character de scribed, a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame, said front frame being of'. less height than the rear frame and having its upper end spaced from said rear frame, spacing devices for said frames, each comprising a front member and a rear member pivotally connected one to the other and pivotally connected respectively with the upper portion of the front franie and with said rear frame, a platform comprising separate parts carried respectively by the front and rear members of said spacing devices, one of said members having a part extending beyond its point of connection with the other member andengaging said other member to limit the downward movement of said platform, and guards arranged at the connected with said front and rear frames and spacing the same one from the other,

and guards pi'votally connected on fixed axes with said front and rear frames.

9. In a structure of the character described, a front frame, a rear frame to support said front frame, said front frame being of less height than said rear frame and having its upper end spaced from said rear frame, spacing devices connecting said front and rear frames, and each comprising two parts pivotally connected one to the other and pivotally connected withthe respective frames, a platform carried by said spacing devices, and guards arranged at the sides of said'platform and each pivotally connected at its upper end with said rear frame and each pivotally connected at its lower end with said front frame on an axis coincident with the axis of the adjacent spacing member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

' 1 JAMES M. JACOBS. 

